An Organizational Contingency Theory for Education

Abstract

The authors describe a theory of organization developed by Lawrence and Lorsch which related organizational differentiation and integration to environmental demands. Several studies which have attempted to employ the theory in school settings are discussed and the paper describes some of the promises and problems asso ciated with and implications for using the theory in educational organizations. In particular, the authors discuss applications of the concepts for studying urban school systems as complex organiza tions. C. Brooklyn Derr is an Assistant Professor and Research Associate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. John J. Gabarro is an Assistant Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.